Hand sealing machine



Sept. 21 ,1926,

A.M.ENGLBH HAND SEALING MACHINE Filed AuguSt 3l. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor f4 dtgy.

Sept. 21 1926. 1,600,937

- A. M. ENGLISH HAND SEALLNG MACHINE Filed August 31 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 21 1926. v 1,600,937

A. M. ENGLISH HAND SEALING MACHINE .Filed August 3l, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 21 1926.

A. M. ENGLISH f HAND SEALING MACHINE Filed August 31, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor M 27:

`Patented Sept. 21, 1926. j

Umts stares ANALno M. ENGLISH, oF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, Y.i'ssrernonA To JOHNV MAC` LAURIN, on BnooKFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

v HAND SEA'LING MACHINE.

Application sied August 31, 1922. serial No. 585,485.

This invention relates to'machines for applying sealing tape to cartons, boxes, packages, and the like, and itwill be herein disclosed *as embodied in a hand machine for applying sealingV tape coated with an Awith which any desired length of sealing vat tape may be applied, which will beconvenient to use, economical to manufacture, which will apply the tape to packages of various shapes and around edges, if desired, and which generally will'satisfy the [practicalA requirements ofa machine of this character.

' V' The nature of the inventionwill be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the vnoveli'features will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings, Figure lis a side'elevation of a hand sealingmachine' embodying the' invention in ythe `form at present preferred g" f Fig. 2 is a-plan view of the machine shown in Fig. V1, the frame being broken away in Y places to show the parts contained therein; vFig. 3 is a 'front elevation. of the machine shown in Figs. l andrQ; 1 y

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line .ff- 4, Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the lineV Fig. G 1s a perspective viewof the cutter and adjacent parts.

.- VThe machine Shown comprises a casing or` frame 2 supporting the operating parts vof the machine1 and front and rear rolls v3 and 4,:respectively, which are mounted in the casing and support it.l A handle 5 is secured to the topy of the frame vv2A andv is [made like the .hand grip used on planes `f andsimilar tools, so that it may be convena .iently gras ed to push the machine. 'Y f ist the' sont er .the

vknife 20 consists Vlof a plates 7 and 8, respectively, Fig. l'5, Vare secured to the frame 2, these plates being spaced apart to provide a guideway 9 between them through which-the strip S of sealing tape is led. It is contemplated that 'the source of supply of sealing tape will consist of a large roll supportedl on trunnions mounted Vabove the machine, and that the strip of tape will be VVdrawn from this supply and inserted in the guideway 9. The

tape is led into the upper end of the guideway between two 'pairs of pins designated at l0 and" ll, respectively, FigsqQ, Sand j 'recae-3? rarest oer-ics.

5, the pins 10 being securedin anL-shaped s Yplate l2, while the pins 11 yare secured in asimilarplatel 13. ',The basesof the two plates. arel overiappedand fastened secure.v

ly to a bar 14E by meansof a'screw l5-pro-l y jecting through slots in Saidjbases Where-fy by the plates may be adjusted toward and from each other. The bar 14; V.is integrall with the -plateS and lis secured to the-twov i sidemembers ofthe frame Vor lcasing v2 Vat the forward end thereofl byrscrewsfll. Several screws '17' tapped into the plate-8 secure the front plate 7 in. position, a ,strip 18, Fig. f1, being interposed'between the tov hold theniproperly' spaced from each other. f i Y 'i vplates Z and 8 at each side of the machine i The guideway 9V extends td apointfin front of and adjacent to the lower edge `of f i;

thefforemostroll 3, andthe strip-,Slis fed through the guideway, `when the' machinel iS movingl forward, dueto the fact thatfit to'which itis to be affixed bv the rolls 3V andit. Referring to Fig.15, it will bev obviousthat asthe machine ismoved forwardoverfthev chine and the carton.k v

When the desiredxlength oftape has-beven .applied to the carton' it must'be severed,

9o f isv progressively pressedagainst .thel article and for this purpose a-.cuttingl devicehas been provided at the lower end of the gui'dewav 9. o This device comprises 44a `stationary blade 19, Figs; 5 and 6, 4and va 'reciprocating' knife Q0. The machine frame is providedv at thispointrwith an4 extension 2l, andgthe ary blade 19 is fastened to the lower side of the Aextension 21 by means of screws 22-22, and these screws also secured in position fa 'spring 23 `having lingers `that press the cutter 2O against the lower face of the bladeV 19. A plate 2%,Fig- 5, secured transversely "across the loweiI end of the gnidewayholds the stripA of tape kS normally out of contact with the Cutter 20. 'y

- For the purpose of operating the cutter, Ufshaped vlever 'which embraces the 'iframe 2-'ispii'fot`ed to sai'dframe on aV stud '26 that lentends through the frame from side itoside.' vAn Yeidension'2'7 offthis lever pro- -Je'ctsVL upwardly in front of and closely adjacent totliediand grip in convenientposij'tionto be reached by the Vlingers of the hand lthat grasps the grip 5.

Additional exten- Vsions 28-28, Fig. 1, of this lever extendV downwardlyat each/side of the machine 'and are connected'by links V29--29 to the opposite sideso'f .the cutter 20. Consequently,

when the'liiioer nece 27 of the leveiI 25 is 'moved baclrwarldlytoward the hand grip 5 ythe' cilttei1A 2O will be'nioved forward past the Vedge ofthe blade 19.

fthus severing the strip 'y S. 'Due tothe V-'shaped notch in the blade Y'20"the cutting operation on the strip Vwill ibegin'at'e'ach side` thereof 'and'proceed toavoided :and aclean cutis assured.

ward the centerof the strip.V Any'tenoency 'to move the strip in eitherduection thus is Inorder to returnthe cutter to its iniv*tial position after the'striphas been severed, two hairpin. springs 31-31 are provided,

one *at :each sidefof the machine, the coiled yportions ofthesesprings encircling the pivot Y :rod 26"the legs: of eaclrfspring-strad- "dlin'g two i'pin's`f32 and,l respectively. rThe pins o2 at oppositevsidesof the machine are :seciired fast :in the lever 25 rwhile the two fpinsFB 'Y are mounted in the frame 2. Thesprings 31-31^tend to" hold these two pins asiclosely'together 'as possible and Athey tend, "*thereford to hold the lever 25 its 'inormal position. Consequently, as. soon. as

"the 'finger` piece-'27l of :the lever is released y after the'strip has been severed, the springs 317-731 Y immediately Yreturn the :to its initial position.Y

ll lever againV Afterfthe-'sealing strip has been severed L inthe manner'just'describedit is necessary to jadvance the end ofthe strip, on the supply sideof Athe cutter into' operativefiela- `tionshipl tothe roll 3 before the Vfeeding' of :tliost-ijipj, as above described, can be re- `vsinned. This initia'lfstrip Vfeeding VVof ,an "auxiliary: hand opera or advancing operatioiris perfoprnfied by means ed `feeder comprisingafeed dog Swhicir is `pivotally Vjported 'in C ,A 'coiled spring on' Ethe feed dog` site sidesrof the Ll-shape'd leshown in" Figs. 1, 3 vand 5. l encirclingtherod, acts V5 with atende'ncy to rotate 'ver215g b Vger piece it in'a clockwise direction, ld`ig.'5,`and thus holds this dog constantlyV in Aengagement with the strip S. The central portion of the U-shaped lever has aglug extend-l ing inwardly therefrom into a slot 39, Figs. 2 and 3, formed in the front plate 7. rllhis :lug is located immediately in front of the feed dog so that the movement of the feed dog` v35 by the spring 8T results in pinching the sealing strip between Athe toothed end "ofl ,theV `vdog and 'the lrearwardy face'of Vthe lug '38. Y This will bevery clear lfrom an inspection of F ig. 5. n

it will nowrbe 'evident thaty when 'the fin'- 27 is moved forward away'froiii the hand grip 5, the' parts 35 and will carry the" feed strip S downwardly throi'igh the groove 9, the dog 85 travelling in a slot vO'forme'd in the vrear plate 8. This feeding :movement carries'the end of the strip under. the roll 3, thus enabling the maingtape feeding operation tobe resumed in themanner previously described. During the latter-'operation the vsealing-strip movesv downwardly 'past the dog` 35, tipping the dog i'nY a-'coun- V`ter-clockwise direction, Fig. Y5,", that it olfers no appreciable resi ment of the tape. l

Uien the linger piece 27v is moved backwardly to sever the tape, as above described,

stance to the move- 'the dog 35 is tipped into-an inoperative po- Nsitionby itsengagement with the plate 8 at 'the upper end of the slot 40,'the dog fatrthiz's time beine:- moved out of Contact with the v`sealing strip and carried 'into the upper dotted lineposition, 1.Y Assooi'i the 'linger piece 27 has'been released, after completing the initialfeedingmovement the:Y

strip, vthe springs 2li-'31 'immediatelyfree turn this 'member to its normalxposition These springs thus hold thel actuating levei'r27 normally in anl intermediate position. It is moved backward out'oiLIV this position to sever the strip and` forward Vto feed thestri-p, but it is returned ragainto its i about the rod 43, acts on the'dog to hold it`v vin contact lwith the sealing tape S.; ililhen (the tapetfends' to move baclrwarChthe dog42 lpresses the strip against the portion ofthe 4plate 7: ratr the upper end ofl the slot 39', as

clearly` shown'in AF l5, andthus eifec'tiially prevents any retrograde movement.

As above stated, this'inacli'ine isr designedY especiallyto handle sealingltapecoated with adhesivevhich is not stickyfort'aclyatordinary temperatures' jbnt which Vmust "Lio heated in 'order to render it tacky. The machine shown, therefore, includes means for electrically heating the-rolls 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the roll 3 is mounted on a stationary shaft 46 which is supported in the opposite side niembers of the frame or casing 2. This roll comprises a central body 47 mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 46 andcarrying an insulatingcylinder 48 made of soap stone, lava, or any othei suitable material. This insulatingv body has a spiral groove cut in its surface, in which iswound a high resistance lwire 49 of anysuitable composition. The walls of the grooves hold the adjacent turns of wire out of contact with each other. A metal shell 50 encirclesthe insulator 48 and is held in properly spaced relationship theretoby means of end pieces 51-51 screwed thereto and having holes therein lthrough which the ends of the resistance wire are led. Mounted on these end pieces 51-51 but insulated therefrom are two annular metal plates 52-52 to which, respectively, the terminal wires of the coil 49 are connected. Brushes 53-53 of conducting material bear against the flat rings 52--52., respectively.

The constructionk of the rear roll 4 is eX- actly'flike that just described. A pair of brushes 54-54 bear against the opposite ends of this roll.

The Shanks of the two brushes 53 and 54 are encircled by insulating sleeves 55 and 56, Figs. 4 and 5, and they are clamped againstithe side 'of the casing 2 by means of a bar '5T which bears against the insulating sleeves 55 and 56, this bar beingdrawn toward the sides of the casing by means of screws 58-58, Fig. 2.v Abovethe insulating', sleeves 5'5 and 56 the Shanks `of the brushes 53 andv 54 are bent inwardly (see Fig. 4) Vand are both connected to -a metal bar or strip 60 which is riveted to an L-shaped strip 6l secured fast to the casing 2 by meansy of a terminal stud 62 havinga -nut 63 threaded thereon, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The same construction isused at the opposite side of themachine, the parts' being designated by primed'numerals corresponding to .those used forlike parts in the foregoing description. 'All these conductors are eft'ectually' insulated-from the casing 2 by van insulating 'strip 65 and by suitable insulating washersv used at the points where the studs 62 and 6l extend through the casing.

[Currentfis led to the machine `from any suitable source, the t`erminals`62 'and 62 beingy adapted to receive. an electrical connec- Vtoi of the. ordinaryy commercial form.

Assuming 'for the'A moment that the terminal stud 62 is positive, currentI will flow from this member to thevparts 61 and Y60 and the brushes .53 and 54,;.and'thence thrcnghjthe heating coils 49 lof the' 'two rollsA 3 vand 4 to for the'. purpose ofship'ping Y y Vrions kinds.` lt is especially desirablev that Vthese boaesbe sealed with an adhesive, such j the brushes 53 and 54 at the opposite ends of the rolls. will be conducted to the strip60 and thence throughV the part 6l -to the-.opposite terminal stud 62. This arrangement .hasv the ad-l article to which tliestrip is to be affixed, and

the feeding of the strip is initiated by pushing Vthe linger piece 27 forward away-from of tape down under the forward roll 3. The operator next pushes the machine forward, thus'causing the roll 3 to press'tlie sealing` strip against the carton. As he continues to move the machine forward,v the sealing strip is drawn from the Vsource ofv supply and is progressively pressed againstthe carton by the rolls 3 and 4, the yheat of these 'rolls softeningthe adhesive on the sealing strip and renderingfit tacky so that it aolheresV firmly tothe carton. The; pressureof the rolls of course increases this adhesion.: As soonas substantially the desired-length of tape has been applied the workman pulls the lingerV piece 2Tjbackwardly, thus operating the cutter and'severing the strip just in front of the roll 3.. lThe machine preferably is nioved'forwarduntil they rear'roll 4Ihas passed over the end ofthe strip so that it is securely'united to the carton.' The operationsv are then repeated on the next carton or other articlet'o besealed.

vIt will be appreciated that the invention provides a machine which is very-convenient, y

F rom these brushes the current sealing strip S i Y the handle 5. This forces the end of the strip Y to use, is economical-'tomanufacture, and

which is especially 'adapted tothe applying of indeterminate lengths jof `sealing tape to cartons oifpackages of various shapes and sizes.VY The fact that the rolls Sand v4 are 2 is cut away between them, as best..sliown in'Figfl, enables the machine to apply tape across the edge of a carton or similar article.- AThis is particularly advantageousin after uniting vthe flaps with tape, to extend vthe sealing tape fora distance ateaoh end of the carton. l

now widelyV used iiiplace of wooden boxes The Vsealing of cartons hasbeen particularly mentioned herein because animportant use of this machineis'in thesealing ofthe ibreboard or pasteboard ACartons which arer goods of vaf las 'Y Vas thatmentioned above, {Wliichfis not soluble in Water, particularly if .theshipment is itc ,be made byhoat, since otherwise the vcarton Vmay become unsealed diie to the action of 'Idesire to 'claim Vas-neiv is:

,1. VIn a machine forapplying sealing tape y'to articles, thecoinbination of aframe, a yroll vsupported rin said frame,V means for lguiding a stripof sealing tape into position to belpressed by said roll against the article .towliich the tape is to loe afliXed, a heated device loeliindA saidjroll for pressing said tape against `said article, ineansfor severing 'theta-pe in` front of said roll, andmeans `"operative independentlyfof saidV roll for ad- Vv'an'ciiigtape 4from the snpply'side of said 'severing means into `'operative relationship tofsaid roll Yafter the severing operation has `been performed. .Y r

2. `Infam.acliine forfapplying sealing tape 'to articles, `thecombination of va frame, ya

' roll supported in said frame, Vmeans for guiding a strip of sealing tape into posi- 'tionV vto vheV pressed by saidV roll against fthe artiele'to which l'the tape isrto be afl fiixed, whereby the vtapeis drawnyfrom the supplyhythe relative movement of the Vina- `chine andV said article, means behind said' Vroll for vpressing said .tape against said ar- ?tic'le,1means for .severing'the tape in front of saidrolhmeans for advancing tapefrom 'the supply -side of said severing -means finto *operative relationsh ip.v to said roll afterV the severing operation has beeniperformed, and

l common "actuator for "advancing means.

said severing and '3. In a lmachine for applying sealing tape to` articles, `the combination of means opervatifve through the-relative movement of `jthe machine andthe anticlejtoV which the tape Visfobe afiiied for drawing the 'tape .froma Asource of supply', a cutter-,for severing4 said tape, affeeder operative 'after the 'tape has VVhee-nsevered to advance theV stri-p of tapeV from the su'p'plysidel of theV vcutter into position to .resumesaidjdravving operation, `fand aT common actuator "for sai'dgfeedeixand cut- Yater. Y Y tfIn a machine for applying to'articles, lthe Vcombination ,of lileans operfjatve through the 'relative' movement Yof the machine andthe farti-ele to which 'the file-pe :sealing tapeV gnidinga strip rof sealingtape iiiftoj` agp y tion vin frantoi. and adiacenti te the ist?, r

"i'geoogesv is to. loe afliized' for drawing the tape fromY a :source of supply, a cutter for severing operate said cutter, and a spring. for nor- Y mally holding said device in an intermediate position.` Y

5. In ,a hand machine for applying sealing tape in indeterminate lengths to articles, the ,combination of a-fraine,-a pair of rolls mountedin said-v frame land supporting it, said rolls being arrangedone inadvance of the other .Y and serving to press thev tape against the-surface of the articleto Whichit is to bev affixed, a liand'grip carried 'by VSaidfraine, and means for, guiding a strip of sealing tape into operative relationship to the foremost roll.V s

G. ln a hand machine for applying sealing tape in indeterminate lengths to articles, the combinationl of a frame, lapair o frolls mounted one 'inadvanee ofthe other 'in said ing the tape in front ofsaid foremost roll, 'and means for advancing the strip of tape` troni. the supplyside of the cutter into operative relationship te said foremost Vroll after said severing' operation has `heenA performed. r 7, l-na hand machine fornapplyingvrseal- KIing` tape in indeterminate `lei'igthsto articles,V vthe combination-of a frame, a .pairY of rolls 4mounted one Yiii'adyance ofthe other in said frame, and supportingthe rframe, said rolls `serving to press the tape againstthesurface of theai'ticlejto which it :is to be' aiiixed, a 'hand grip'carried by said frame, ,means rfor -guidinga strip of sealing tape intoa position in4 front of and adjacent to the lovver edgeofthe foremost roll, al reciprocating cutter for severing thetapeV ata point Vin feeder for'advancirng the strip of tape from the 'supply side :of thejcutter after said `strip has been severedhv saidcutter, anda single actuator for4 botligsaid cutter andfeeder.

8. In a hand machine for applying sealing tape Ain indeterminate leiiv-gths'to` arti/cles, the combinationg-of ,a franie,a `rpair of Vrolls mounted Vone in advance-ofthe other inl said frame andsupportiiig. the frame',said rolls serving to press g the tape Lagainst the.4 surface o f the yarticle to which itis to befafried, 'a liandgrfip carried by said f frame, -ine'a'ns ,ffory 1151 Vvanee otsaid vforemost roll,a reciprocating 'i edge of the foremostV roll, a reciprocating cutter for severing the tapeat a point in advance of said foremost roll,a reciprocatingY feeder for advancing the strip of tape from the supply side of the cutter after said strip has been severed by said' cutter, a lever Vmounted adjacent to saidliand grip and movable in one direction to actuate said feeder and in the opposite direction to actuate said cutter, and a spring for holding said lever normally in an intermediate position.

9. In a hand machinevfor applying sealing tape in indeterminate lengths to articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of rolls mounted one in advance of the other in said frame and supporting the frame', said rolls serving to press the tape against the surface vof the article to which it is to be affixed, a

hand grip carried by said frame, means for guiding a strip of sealing tape into operative relationship to the foremost roll,

means for electrically heating at least oneY of said rolls, a cutter for severing the tape in front of said foremost roll, and means for advancing tape from the supplyV into operative relationship to said lforeiiiostroll after said cutter has severed the tape.

10. In a hand machine 'for applying sealing tape in indeterminate lengths to articles, the combination of a frame, a pair of rolls mounted one in advance of the other in said frame and supporting the frame, said rolls serving to press the tape against the surface of the article to which it is to be affixed, a hand grip carried lby said frame, means for guiding a strip of sealing tape into operative Yrelationship to the foremost roll, a cutter for severing the tape in front of said foremost roll, means for advancingtape from the supply into operative relationship to said foremost roll after said cutter has severed-the tape, an electric heating lunit in each of said rolls, and means for conducting current to and from said units including sliding connections at the' ends of the rolls.

11. In a hand machine for applying sealy ing tape in indeterminate lengths to articles,

the combination `of a frame, a' pair of rolls mounted one in advance of the other in said frame and supporting the frame, said rolls serving to pressV the tape against the surface Athe combination of' a frame, a hand grip of the article to which it is to be afiiired, a` .i

hand grip carriedby said frame, means for guiding a strip of sealingv tape intol operative relationship to the foremost roll, an

electric heater in one of said rolls, conductors leading from said `heater to opposite Yends of the latter roll, and `electric conductors supportechin said frame at opposite sides thereof for conducting current to. and. i

from the last mentioned roll, said` conductors including brushes bearing against the mechanism for severing the tape in front ofk .said roll, an ,auxiliary tape feeding device arranged to advance the tape from the supply side of said cutting mechanism into Operative relationship to said roll after the tape has been severed,and a lever adjacent to said hand grip for manually operating said auxiliary tape feed.

13. In a hand machine for applying seal.- ing tape in indeterminate lengths to articles,

carried by said frame, tworolls spaced apart by a substantial distance and located one in advance of the other, two shafts supported by said frame and supporting said rolls, respectively, for rotation about axes fixed Vwith reference to the frame, means for guiding a strip of sealing tape into operative relationship to the foremost roll, whereby said V rolls are operative to press said strip of tape against the article to which it isv to be affixed,

and cutting mechanism for severing the y tape in front of said foremost roll, saidk frame being shapedvto permit the free en-` trance of an edge ofa carton between said Y rolls, whereby the machine-,may be used to apply tape across the edge cfa carton or*v similar article.

ANALDO M. nixienrsn.l 

